New York Times reporting: As of Saturday, Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom that has emphasized its citizens’ well-being over national prosperity, had administered a first vaccine dose to more than 478,000 people, more than 60% of its population. The Health Ministry said this month that more than 93% of eligible adults had received their first shots. That rate was ahead of those of the United Kingdom and the United States, more than seven times that of neighbouring India and nearly six times the global average. Bhutan’s health minister, attributed its success to “leadership and guidance” from the country’s king, public solidarity, a general absence of vaccine hesitancy, and a primary health care system that “enabled us to take the services even to the most remote parts of the country.”
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Monday 19 April 2021
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Thimphu, Bhutan
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Monday 19 April 2021
London, United Kingdom
The late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and husband to the queen, was long celebrated (or parodied) for his distinctive personality. Before his death on April 9, at the age of 99, he was the United Kingdom’s grand, grumpy, and eccentric uncle – a man totally out of step with the modern world. To take just one of many notorious examples, Philip couldn’t understand why servicemen today would need therapy. Back in World War II, he observed, “We didn’t have counselors rushing around every time somebody let off a gun, asking ‘Are you all right? Are you sure you don’t have a ghastly problem?’ You just got on with it.”
Monday 19 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Training in the building and maintaining of Popao (outrigger canoes) is being held in ‘Eua, starting on April 14, with the aim to complete 20 canoes within two weeks. This initiative invests in indigenous knowledge for resilient communities.
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Friday 16 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s roll-out of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine continued on its second day, with more than 500 people vaccinated as of this afternoon. Acting Health CEO Dr Reynold 'Ofanoa said today, there had been no cases of major adverse effects reported nor any hospitalisations from those that have been vaccinated so far.
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Thursday 15 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HRH Princess Pilolevu Tuita was the first person vaccinated in the Tonga roll-out of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, receiving her first dose along with frontline workers, at Falemasiva Hall in Havelu, Tongatapu today. Acting CEO for Health Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa said it was “a day of hope.”
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Wednesday 14 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
People who reside in Kolomotu‘a and Kolofo’ou districts, in Tongatapu, and are in the priority groups, can get their COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccinations at various venues next week, 19–23 April. The priority group includes those who are 45-years-old and over, those who are over 18-years-old with non-communicable diseases and / or with disabilities.
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Wednesday 14 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HRH Princess Pilolevu Tuita will be the first person vaccinated with the first dose of COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine along with frontliners at Falemasiva Hall, Havelu, tomorrow 15 April.
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Wednesday 14 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Simione Ikahihifo (55) was sentenced to seven-years and six-months imprisonment for dangerous driving causing the death of 'Aisea Kaifa (66) on Hihifo Road at Sia'atoutai in August 2020. The judge said that In 2015 Tonga increased its maximum sentence to 15 years imprisonment for drunk driving causing death, as a deterrent, so that lives might be saved.
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Wednesday 14 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Amusia Mateni (42) was sentenced today to 3 years and six months imprisonment for possession of 8.08 grams of methamphetamine and interfering with evidence that was seized during an altercation with a police officer on a road in Ngele'ia. The judge noted that in the accused’s current state of involvement with methamphetamines with its resultant delusional dishonesty ...“his wife and children may be better off without him.”
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Wednesday 14 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
90-year old Peter Warner, died in Australia yesterday. The famous sailor reportedly drowned when his boat rolled at the dangerous Ballina Bar, off the coast of Byron Bay, NSW.
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Tuesday 13 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
People aged 18-years-old and above in Tonga can now register with the Ministry of Health to receive the COVID-19 AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine.
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Tuesday 13 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The trial against a current Cabinet Minister and People’s Representative to Parliament, ‘Akosita Lavulavu and her husband, ‘Etuate Lavulavu, also a former Cabinet Minister, started on April 12 at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court. The couple have pleaded not guilty to three joint counts of obtaining a total of over $500,000 pa'anga by false pretences.
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Tuesday 13 April 2021
New York, USA
The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has been deployed against COVID-19 in at least 115 countries, some of them for several months now. But it was not until a few cases of a rare blood-clotting disorder — some fatal — emerged within the past month or so that many European nations began to rethink its use across all age groups. Public health experts, however, have expressed concern that publicity surrounding the rare vaccine-related reactions will fuel hesitancy. They continue to emphasize that the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine’s benefits far outweigh the risks. In many nations, it is the only vaccine available.
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Integrating gender equality into Tongatapu Rugby Union was a key focus at a retreat held on Fafa Island from 9 to 11 April under the theme ‘Growing Yourself, To Growing Others, To Growing Rugby Union’.
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Monday 12 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s State of Emergency and COVID-19 national restrictions have been renewed for another month from 8:00pm 12 April to 8:00pm 10 May, declared Prime Minister Hon Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa today.
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Monday 12 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kaati Luka (22) who beat up his 40-year-old partner leaving her with facial injuries that resulted in her admission to the surgical ward at Vaiola Hospital, was sentenced to one-year eight-months imprisonment.
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Monday 12 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A total of 213 seasonal workers left Tonga last Friday, 9 April, to work in Adelaide, Australia.
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Saturday 10 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga Police are having to rethink how to respond to national security challenges, Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell said yesterday at his farewell parade, citing “the increasing prevalence of illicit drugs in our community, the threat of the health pandemic, and the ever-present challenges of living in a region with frequent and more intense tropical cyclones.”
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Saturday 10 April 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The following information is to correct any misinformation regarding the Ministry’s partnership with the Beijing Machinery Repair Company Limited.... Oku tuku atu ‘a e ngaahi fakamatala ko eni koe’uhi ke fakatonutonu ‘a e ngaahi fakamatala hala fekau’aki pea mo e fengaue’aki ‘a e Potungaue pea mo e Beijing Machinery Repair Company Limited.... Media Statement from the Tonga Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (MAFF).
Friday 9 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Malia Selupe (32) was sentenced today to three-years imprisonment for obtaining by false pretences around $59,950 pa’anga from customers, at her car dealer company in Longolongo.
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Tonga weather forecast from yr.no, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the NRK. See also Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Center, Tonga, for latest local weather bulletin.